Loom apparatus



March 10, 1942. A. PURVES LOOM APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1941 /d L I INVENTOR. BY find/0m1%r0e$ Patented Mar. 10, 1942 LOOM APPARATUS Andrew Purves, Holyoke, Mass, assignor to Isabel Langhauser hauser (his Mass.

(his daughter) and Isabel Langgranddaughter), both of Holyoke,

Application July 8, 1941, Serial No. 401,479

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looms and is directed more particularly to means for tightening or tensioning the weft element from the bobbin in the shuttle as it extends through the shed.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of means for tensioning the weft element as the shuttle arrives in the shuttle box. In connection with looms such as are used for the weaving of wire fabrics, such as Fourdrinier wire, I have found that, due to the inherent characteristics of the weft element on the bobbin members, there is a tendency for bends, kinks or the like to develop therein which are objectionable.

According to this invention means is provided which functions with a brake or drag action on the weaving element as the shuttle and bobbin arrive at the end of the throw in the shuttle box to tension the element so as to straighten or remove the numerous small kinks and bends therefrom. This provides a straight, non-kinked element extending from the shuttle through the shed of warp elements so that the lay in its movement acts on a straight smooth element.

The novel features of the invention facilitate a superior weaving operation and thereby contribute to a production of a fabric which is superior in important respects. That is to say, the resulting woven wire fabric is smooth and possesses uniform strength to provide a longer useful life.

Various other changes and modifications may be made in the form of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, wherefor it is not desired to be limited to the following description of the present preferred form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a shuttle and bobbin having the novel features of the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view On the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the shuttle box at one side of a loom.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

A shuttle is represented at 2 which carries a bobbin 4 that is served with windings w of the weft element W which in the case of metallic fabric is relatively fine wire. The wire is paid out from the bobbin as the shuttle travels back and forth on the member 6 between a shuttle box 8 at one side of the loom and a similar box at the other side.

As the shuttle passes through the shed of warp wires and arrives in the shuttle box, the element W is tensioned in the manner to be described so that kinks, bends, and the like are removed and it is made straight and smooth for action of the lay.

Guide members In and 12 are provided and the element passes through and over these to a guide roll 14, therearound, and back to another guide roll I6. From the roll [6 the element passes through a tension device indicated generally by l8 and is then guided by any one of several guide rolls 2B.

The tension device, according to the form of the invention being illustrated, includes a member 22 having a stem 24 that is slidable in the shuttle. Below the member 22 there is an anvil member 26 which may be of fiber or of any suitable material.

The element W passes between the members 22 and 2B and as pressure is applied to the stem 2 the element W is tension-ed.

A side member 28 of the shuttle box at opposite sides of the loom has a detent 3? carried loosely on studs 32 and is urged yieldingly downwardly by spring 34. As the shuttle arrives in the shuttle box at one side of the loom, the detent yieldingly bears on the stem 24 of the tensioning member thereby to exert pressure on the element W which extends from the shuttle through the warp shed to the opposite side of the fabric thereby to tension and straighten the element and remove kinks and bends therefrom.

When the shuttle leaves the shuttle box at one side of the loom forthe shuttle box at the other side of the loom the detent is released.

Thus in each movement of the shuttle from one side of the loom to the other, the tension mechanism is operated automatically for the-desired tensioning and resulting action on the element W.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present em:

bodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. l

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shuttle construction comprising in combination, a shuttle body having a space for a bobbin and spaced passageways for an element from a bobbin, guide means in each of said passageways for an element extending from said bobbin, a lower friction member in one of said passageways over which an element is drawn from one guide means to the other, and an upper friction member disposed directly over and above said lower member guided for free movements up and down in the body towards and away from the lower member so as to press an element onto said lower member when external pressure is applied thereto from above.

2. The combination with a shuttle box and shuttle construction of means for tensioning an element being drawn from a bobbin in the shuttle comprising, a shuttle body having a space 20 for a bobbin and spaced passageways for an element from a bobbin, guide means in each of said passageways for an element extending from said bobbin, a lower friction member in one of said passageways over which an element is drawn from one guide means to the other, and an upper friction member disposed directly over and above said lower member guided for free movements up and down in the body towards and away from the lower member so as to press an element onto said lower member, said shuttle being receivable in said shuttle box and the latter provided withspring means with which said upper friction member is engageable to move said member downwardly whereby said upper and lower members co-operate to frictionally engage an element from a bobbin as the upper member is pressed downwardly.

ANDREW PURVES. 

